There's plenty to explore within walking distance of our adorable little cottage at The Lhen.

There's a beach, for example, just a few metres down the road:



At the back of the beach is the Cronk y Bing Nature Reserve, which is part of a sand dune system stretching north to the Point of Ayre:



And there's The Lhen...

During the last Ice Age, a pro-glacial lake covered almost all the Island's northern plain. Wet, then... And when things are wet, human beings want to dry them.

The history guide in our cottage explains: "The earliest mention in the historical record of efforts to thoroughly drain the curragh (wetlands) of the northern plain was in 1648, when the great Enquest of Michael were ordered to meet with the Island's Governor and other officers. This led to the digging of the deep trench known as the 'Lhen' or 'Lhane-Mooar'. The trench required constant maintenance, often enforced by the law. Following the creation of the trench, the northern part of the Island -- previously regarded as the least fertile agricultural land -- gradually became the most fertile part of the Island."

I can't comment on the environmental repercussions of the trench-building. But the product is certainly very picturesque:





Once you've done a lap of the beach and the reserve, you can follow the quiet country road to the village of Andreas:



We've visited St Andrew's, the village church, a couple of times, most recently last year. In that post I talk about Sigurd's Cross (one of the many ancient Manx crosses displayed there). Here are a few more details:



There is a former RAF airfield to the east of Andreas, and the village hosted several squadrons of airmen during World War II:




Andreas also boasts a pub, called the Grosvenor, where you can get generous portions of good food:




The village also has a very creditable little store, where -- amongst other things -- you can buy the high-quality products of the Andreas Meat Company.

Provisioned up, we went home the way we came, collecting blackberries en route.

Good day. Good beginning.